Bicycle Friendly America Spring/Summer 2016 - (Page 30)
2016 NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT & WOMEN'S FORUM
REFLECTIONS ON THE NATIONAL
BIKE SUMMIT
BY NGANI NDIMBIE
30 BICYCLE FRIENDLY AMERICA
blown or consciences were offended,
they didn't show it. In the end it was great
to listen to a presentation that discussed
these intersections in a room where everyone's participation seemed very open
and intentional.
For me, the most important thing
that came out of the Mobility as a Civil
Right workshop was a solid framework
for an event that I could bring home to
Pittsburgh-our own Mobility as a Civil
Right forum. Discussing mobility as a
right is the perfect structure under which
to bring together a diverse group of people who have long been working diligently to improve conditions for low income
people and people of color in Pittsburgh.
Since changing lanes to become a full
time advocate for biking and walking
I've been unnerved by comments from
friends that I've worked with for years on
issues like immigration reform, police
accountability and improving our public
schools. They regularly express deep contempt for Pittsburgh's new commitment
to improving bike infrastructure. It's
never more than few weeks before I see
yet another social media post from a colleague denouncing bike lanes as elitist.
But I know these people well, and I
know how hard they work to see Pittsburgh become a more just and livable city
for all of its residents. Our local forum
discussing #mobilityequity will serve as
Rick Reinhard.
A
s I waited for the Mobility as a Human Right panel discussion to begin I wondered if the presentation
was going to discuss equity in mobility
within the scope of other civil and human
rights struggles. My answer came quickly, the video from PolicyLink that began
the session confirmed that the presenters
were going to talk about the active transportation movement as it relates to immigration, police brutality, Occupy Wall
Street, workers rights, mass incarceration
and the war on drugs-the civil rights
movements that our nation and world
face today.
My personal commitment to the biking and walking movement comes from
a deep desire to bring safety back to the
most affordable forms of transportation
and respect to the people who use them.
I dream of a Pittsburgh where quality of
life isn't directly tied to car ownership.
More than 10 years into my journey as a
social justice activist, I see cities' prioritization of vehicles over people as simply
another form of state-supported injustice.
Yet I'll admit that I felt uncomfortable
as I watched this short video which reinforced my beliefs. I wondered if it was
divisive, I wondered whether people were
ready for something that so distinctly
pushed the boundaries of the biking
movement. But if people's minds were
a place for advocates of all stripes to listen, better understand the intersections
of our work, and work together to make
Pittsburgh's future transportation opportunities more equitable.
As the video that played at the start of
the session illustrated, equity in transportation is multifaceted. It was a great reminder that our work is only done when
streets are safe places for everyone, and
that social justice and bike activists must
work together to achieve that vision.
Mobility as a Civil Right Moderator Brentin
Mock of The Atlantic CityLab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhWc6Dzy8xM
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Bicycle Friendly America Spring/Summer 2016
Viewpoint
Social Media
Core Values, Unique Contributions
A Silver-Level Playbook: Arlington, Virginia
How Cycling Can Help Solve Global Warming
What The Bicycling Movements Could Learn From the Climate Movement
Photos from Bike Lobby Day
Senator Ben Cardin, Legislator of the Year
Getting to Know Kathy Durham
Plenary Sessions
Memphis Hightailers: Bicycle Club of the Year
Bike Lobby Day: A Nevada Perspective
Call for League Board Applications
Reflections on the National Bike Summit
Photo Highlights of Bike Lobby Day in DC
Architect of the Capitol–Bicycle Friendly Business
Summit Demographic Information
2016 Catalyst Award Recipient: Community Cycling Center
Bicycle Friendly America Spring/Summer 2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Summer2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Winter2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Winter2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2016_GatewayDemo
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mercury/bikeleague/BFA_Spring2016
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com